Alstroemeria plant named ‘Koncaband’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Koncaband’, characterized by its compact and mounding plant habit; sturdy and strong plants; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; freely branching habit; numerous red-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KONCABAND’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, typically grown as a container-type garden Alstroemeria and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Koncaband’.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact container-type garden Alstroemeria plants that have an early and freely flowering habit with attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Alstroemeria plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands in March, 2008 of a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code designation 07-CHI, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code designation 07-0-RD, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Alstroemeria plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands in November, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by in vitro rhizogenesis in a controlled greenhouse environment in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands since October, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Koncaband’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Koncaband’ as a new and distinct Alstroemeria plant:

-   -   1. Compact and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Sturdy and strong plants.     -   3. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.     -   4. Freely branching habit.     -   5. Numerous red-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria are more compact than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and the female parent         selection differ in flower color as plants of the new         Alstroemeria have darker-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have red purple and yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Koncajoli’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,267. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants of ‘Koncajoli’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria were narrower than plants of         ‘Koncajoli’.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had shorter internodes than         plants of ‘Koncajoli’.     -   3. Plants of the new Alstroemeria flowered earlier than plants         of ‘Koncajoli’.     -   4. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had larger inflorescences with         more flowers per inflorescence than plants of ‘Koncajoli’.     -   5. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and ‘Koncajoli’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Koncajoli’ had light red-colored         flowers with distinct red purple-colored stripes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Koncaband’ grown in container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Koncaband’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown during the summer and early autumn in 19-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial container-type Alstroemeria production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 6° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranged from 6° C. to 20° C. Plants were 18 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Koncaband’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida             selection identified as code designation 07-CHI, not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida             selection identified as code designation 07-0-RD, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro rhizogenesis.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.         -   Rhizome description.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About             5 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Texture: Smooth. Color: Close to             161A. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact and mounded; freely             branching habit, bushy appearance; sturdy and strong plants;             vigorous growth habit; rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 35 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 35 cm. -   Stem description:     -   -   Aspect.—Mostly upright.         -   Internode length.—About 2 mm to 12 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Proximally, close to 144D; distally, close to 185A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; below the peduncle, arranged in a             single whorl; leaves sessile.         -   Length.—About 5 cm to 10.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.1 cm to 2.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137C.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation,             close to 146A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 146A; venation, close to 146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in             compound umbels; flowers face upright to outwardly; freely             flowering habit; about 4 to 20 flowers develop per             inflorescence.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous from the late             spring until the autumn in The Netherlands; early-flowering             habit, plants begin flowering about 6 to 14 weeks after stem             initiation.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About one to three weeks,             temperature-dependent; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower longevity as a cut flower.—About one to two weeks,             temperature-dependent; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 53A; apex, close to 137A.         -   Umbel height.—About 11 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 15 cm to 20 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.5 cm to 5.5 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 6.5 cm.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each             whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Size, inner             perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 5.8 cm. Width,             lateral segments: About 2 cm. Length, median segment: About             5.2 cm. Width, median segment: About 2.5 cm. Size, outer             perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 5.5 cm. Width,             lateral segments: About 3.2 cm. Length, median segment:             About 5.8 cm. Width, median segment: About 3 cm. Shape,             inner perianth, lateral and median segments: Lanceolate.             Shape, outer perianth, lateral and median segments: Obovate.             Apex, inner perianth, lateral and median segments: Acute.             Apex, outer perianth, lateral and median segments:             Emarginate, wishbone-shaped. Base, inner and outer             perianths, lateral and median segments: Attenuate. Margin,             inner and outer perianths, lateral and median segments:             Serrate. Texture, inner and outer perianths, lateral and             median segments: Smooth, glabrous. Color, inner perianth:             When opening, lateral segments, upper surface: Towards the             apex, close to 53B, and at the apex, close to 138B;             mid-section, close to 54B; towards the base, close to 55B;             spots/stripes, close to 187A. When opening, median segment,             upper surface: Towards the apex, close to 53B, and at the             apex, close to 145C; mid-section, close to 54A; towards the             base, close to 55B; spots/stripes, close to 187A. When             opening, lateral segments, lower surface: Towards the apex,             close to 46A, and at the apex, close to 138D; mid-section,             close to 53B; towards the base, close to 53A; spots/stripes,             close to 187B. When opening, median segment, lower surface:             Towards the apex, close to 46A, and at the apex, close to             145B; mid-section, close to 46A; towards the base, close to             53C; spots/stripes, close to 187B. Fully opened, lateral             segments, upper surface: Towards the apex, close to 53B, and             at the apex, close to 137A; mid-section, close to 54A;             towards the base, close to 54C; spots/stripes, close to             187A. Fully opened, median segment, upper surface: Towards             the apex, close to 53B, and at the apex, close to 145C;             mid-section, close to 54A; towards the base, close to 54B;             spots/stripes, close to 187A. Fully opened, lateral             segments, lower surface: Towards the apex, close to 46A, and             at the apex, close to 137B; mid-section, close to 53B;             towards the base, close to 47A; spots/stripes, close to             187B. Fully opened, median segment, lower surface: Towards             the apex, close to 46B, and at the apex, close to 145C;             mid-section, close to 47A; towards the base, close to 48B;             spots/stripes, close to 187B. Color, outer perianth: When             opening, lateral segments, upper surface: Towards the apex,             close to 53B, and at the apex, close to 138A; mid-section,             close to 53C; towards the base, close to 53D. When opening,             median segment, upper surface: Towards the apex, close to             53B, and at the apex, close to 138A; mid-section, close to             53C; towards the base, close to 53D. When opening, lateral             segments, lower surface: Towards the apex, close to 53B, and             at the apex, close to 138A; mid-section and towards the             base, close to 53C. When opening, median segment, lower             surface: Towards the apex, close to 53B, and at the apex,             close to 138A; mid-section and towards the base, close to             53B. Fully opened, lateral segments, upper surface: Towards             the apex, close to 53B, and at the apex, close to 138B;             mid-section, close to 53C; towards the base, close to 53D.             Fully opened, median segment, upper surface: Towards the             apex, close to 53B, and at the apex, close to N138B;             mid-section, close to 53C; towards the base, close to 53D.             Fully opened, lateral segments, lower surface: Towards the             apex, close to 53C, and at the apex, close to N138A;             mid-section and towards the base, close to 53D. Fully             opened, median segment, lower surface: Towards the apex,             close to 53B, and at the apex, close to N138A; mid-section             and towards the base, close to 53C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 cm to 5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm             to 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Erect to about 60° to 70°             from vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper             surface: Close to 183B. Color, lower surface: Close to 152C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.             Anther shape: Oval. Anther size: About 3 mm by 7 mm. Anther             color: Close to 185A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:             Close to 197B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil             length: About 4 cm. Style length: About 3.3 cm. Style color:             Proximally, close to 54C; distally, close to 51A. Stigma             color: Close to 51B. Ovary color: Close to 146B.         -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development has not been             observed on plants of the new Alstroemeria. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alstroemeria plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been     observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain     and temperatures ranging from about 6° C. to about 35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Koncaband’ as illustrated and described. 